One-handed meal and beverage holder

ABSTRACT

A handle for attachment to a beverage receptacle defining an axis along its length, the handle being essentially a closed loop of thin material about one loop axis, said handle comprising an attachment means which enables attachment of said handle to said receptacle so as to orient the axis of the loop of said handle essentially perpendicular to the axis of the beverage container, the loop further having a width significantly larger than its thickness, and a circumferential length great enough to accommodate insertion of one or more human fingers, wherein upon insertion said handle fits firmly around the finger or fingers, thus securing the beverage container against rotation about the fingers when the beverage container exerts a moment about the fingers caused by movements of the user of the invention or by the force of gravity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to provisional patent application 60/628,174.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to devices used to hold food and/or beverages. More particularly, the invention relates to a food and beverage holder that allows the user to hold both a beverage and a second food or beverage item with one hand.

BACKGROUND ART

Recent changes such as an increase in travel or longer commutes to work have changed the way we consume food and beverages. These changes have placed an emphasis on take-away meals and beverages. Typically, such meals are enjoyed while traveling from one place to the next, on foot, in public transportation, or in a car.

In these situations, the consumer is typically pressed for time, and obligated to eat and drink while walking, riding, or otherwise engaging in another activity, which typically implies that the consumer will only have one hand available, while the other is used to hold a briefcase, carry a purse, carry a piece of luggage or another object, or hold onto something in a moving train or bus.

The present invention provides a solution to carrying and consuming a beverage and a food item held using one hand. The invention provides a means by which the consumer can carry the meal and always have it available for consumption as its size gets reduced with consumption (as in the case of a sandwich, for example). The invention provides a novel means for carrying and consuming both a drink and a meal (or two drinks) with one hand.

There exist other embodiments of holders for food and drink, mostly for use in cars. Patent application US2004164215, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, proposes a cup and meal holder designed to be fitted to the cup holders present in many cars. While this embodiment is convenient to hold food during a trip in a vehicle, it presents no real use outside of a vehicle and does not allow for consumption of both beverage and meal using only one hand.

Other cup and meal holders typically provide for dual cavities, used to store food and beverage respectively, often providing the means for a straw to reach the inside of the cavity containing the beverage to dispense it. Such devices may or may not provide thermal insulation between the food and beverage compartments. Such devices however do not provide for a way to eat and drink with one hand, since a hand is required to hold the device, while the other hand will be used to hold a spoon or fork to eat the meal, or to hold the meal itself (patents JP2000085870, FR2747376, WO9829013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto).

Another embodiment provides a food container adapted to have a side attachment in which a beverage container can be adapted, providing a way to hold both food and drink in one hand. This device also requires that the other hand be used to consume the food (U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,570, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto).

Other holders, usually combination of cup and tray, provide the means to hold a beverage and a tray of food in one hand, still requiring the use of the other hand to eat the food (patents JP7155248, WO0211586, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto).

Another class of holders consists of a handle with connected loops or receptacles used to place containers for beverages or meals (French fries for example). Such holders provide a means to pick up and carry beverage and meal together, but still require the other hand to eat the food (patents FR2825255, US2003106828, U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,105, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,027, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto).

Another class of devices consist of an attachment to a container forming a loop (U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,631, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto), a clip with a loop (patent WO9816145, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto) or a lid with a hook (U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,444, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto) with or through which a second container can be affixed, hereby providing a way to carry two containers together, to carry and consume a beverage and/or food. Such holders do provide a way to carry and, to a limited extent, consume food and drink with one hand. However, they do not provide for an efficient way to adjust the food as it is consumed, therefore limiting its usefulness.

Patent WO9301995, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, provides a way to adjust the position of the food to compensate the reduction in length as it is being consumed. It also provides a way to attach together a “standard” drink container and a container for one or several food choices. However, the implementation is cumbersome and requires two hands to operate. Moreover, this embodiment is limited to food of elongated shape, such as a hot dog, sandwich or burrito (patent WO9301995).

Patent WO0113771, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, provides a way to build a disposable food container with integrated means to couple a standard tapered drink cup via loops inherent in the design. This embodiment provides an elegant way to group food and beverage, but limits the type of food to be carried in the food container. This embodiment does not provide a means to adjust the food as it is being consumed, making it inappropriate to eat a sandwich with one hand but is probably appropriate for “finger foods” such as French fries or other.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,873, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, provides a means to secure an item such as nail polish on the back of a hand, but is not stable enough to allow for the carrying of said item and consuming while carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a one-handed meal and beverage holder having a handle for attachment to a beverage receptacle securing a beverage container defining an axis along its length. The handle may also be directly secured to a beverage container in a second embodiment of the invention. The handle is essentially a closed loop of thin material about at least one loop axis. The handle includes an attachment device which enables attachment of the handle to the beverage receptacle or container so as to orient the axis of the loop of the handle essentially perpendicular to the axis of the beverage container. The loop further has a width significantly larger than its thickness, and a circumferential length great enough to accommodate insertion of at least two human fingers, wherein upon insertion, the two human figures may be expanded to firmly hold the loop, and thus the beverage container, against rotation about the fingers when the beverage container exerts a moment about the fingers caused by movements of the user or the force of gravity.

In order to allow holding and consuming food and beverage with one hand, it is mandatory to provide the consumer with a means to secure a beverage container on the back of a hand, leaving the palm-side of the hand free to hold and adjust the food as it is eaten.

This invention also allows for different types of food to be consumed, including but not limited to, sandwiches, hamburgers, breads, bars, wraps, burritos, essentially of all shapes, with different consistencies (soft/hard). The invention also allows for two different beverage containers to be carried and consumed with one hand. In order to accommodate these parameters, the concept makes use of the user's hand's natural ability to grasp, hold and adjust the food to be consumed.

The essence of the invention is therefore to provide the user with a means to carry a beverage container on the back of a hand in a manner so that it doesn't tip and spill, freeing said hand to hold the food. The beverage can then be consumed by any means including a straw or lid with spout, while the food will be brought to the human mouth using the hand in a normal fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the invention in the preferred embodiment, with an attached beverage receptacle 22 for holding a beverage container. A handle 21, intended to be fitted over one or more of the user's fingers, is attached to the beverage receptacle 22 so as to orient the axis of the loop of the handle 61 essentially perpendicular to the axis of the beverage receptacle 62.

FIG. 2 is a view of the invention with a beverage container 23 inserted in the beverage receptacle 22. The beverage container 23 is typically equipped with a lid (not shown) and a straw (not shown) to prevent spilling the contents when consuming food.

FIG. 3 is a view of the invention showing how a user inserts two or several fingers of his hand 50 in said handle 21.

FIG. 4 is a view of the invention with said user's hand 50 holding a sandwich 55 and beverage container 23 inserted in beverage receptacle 22.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 before assembly. To assemble the invention, said handle 21 is folded along crease line 25, and areas 26 and 27 are attached to areas 28 and 29 respectively using an adhesive or some other means of attachment known in the art. The invention is then formed into its finished shape by folding the device along lines 30 and 31 so that area 32 is affixed to area 33 using an adhesive or some other means of attachment known in the art.

FIG. 6 shows the assembled invention in the preferred embodiment. Said handle 21 has been constructed by attaching area 26 to area 28 and area 27 to area 29 using adhesive or some other means of attachment known in the art.

The beverage receptacle 22 is assembled by attaching area 32 to area 33. The device is essentially flat for shipping purposes. To use the device, the user pulls the handle 21 outward from the device so that it is bent along lines 25, 34, 35, and 36. The user then opens the beverage receptacle 22 and inserts his or her beverage container, then places the invention on the back of his or her hand, freeing the hand to hold a sandwich, beverage, or other food or drink item.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where a handle 37 is of uniform width.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where a handle 38 is attached directly to a beverage container 39.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where the invention is attached through an adhesive or some other means of attachment to a second container 40, which may have a bottom so as to hold food, or may not have a bottom so that said second container can act as a receptacle for a second beverage container.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where the handle 21 is attached to a ring 41 that can hold a cup with tapered walls.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where the handle 21 is attached to a clip device 42 that would snap onto a can or a bottle.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where the handle is comprised of two handles 43 attached to the beverage receptacle 22.

FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where the beverage receptacle 22 is cylindrical with a bottom 44 to hold a cylindrical beverage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The invention is assembled by bending a flexible sheet of material to form handle 21, and has an attached beverage receptacle 22 that is attached to said handle using glue or made of the same part as said receptacle, therefore ensuring assembly.

In the preferred embodiment, said handle and said receptacle are made with some form of cardboard, in a weight chosen to be sturdy enough to resist deformation, but flexible enough to bend to form the receptacle and the handle. In the preferred embodiment, cardboard was chosen for its recyclability, low cost and ease of tooling, but other materials are also suitable, such as corrugated cardboard, dimpled cardboard, molded polystyrene, plastic sheets, neoprene, rubber, leather, various plasticized materials, and many other materials.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention is single-use and be disposed of afterwards, preferably using recycling collection points.

In the preferred embodiment, the surface of said receptacle can be printed on and display text and/or graphic designs for the purpose of promotion, information, esthetic quality, or others.

A way to build and assemble the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. Said handle 21 is folded along crease line 25, and areas 26 and 27 are attached to areas 28 and 29 respectively using an adhesive or some other means of attachment. The invention is then formed into its finished shape by folding the device along crease lines 30 and 31 so that area 32 is affixed to area 33 using glue or some other means of attachment.

OPERATION OF INVENTION

The invention allows the user to have one hand in use carrying a briefcase, and still be able to eat a meal and drink a beverage using the other hand.

The user slips the invention on his left or right hand, inserting two or three fingers in said handle 21 in such a manner as to have the beverage receptacle 22 touch the back of his hand. He then inserts a a beverage container 23 in said receptacle, optionally equipped with a lid and a straw to prevent spills. The user's hand is free to grab a sandwich or other food item, and can use the full dexterity of his or her fingers to adjust to the position of the food item. Using said invention, the meal can be a sandwich, hamburger, roll, wrap, burrito, or any other meal item that can be carried in one hand.

Said invention permits the adjustment of the food item by the user's fingers, as it is being consumed, allowing for the consumption without requiring the use of the other hand or of any device, attached to said invention or external.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Multiple variations and modifications are possible in the embodiments of the invention described here. The beverage receptacle may be a cylinder with tapered walls to hold a beverage container, a cylindrical receptacle with a bottom to hold a bottle, a hoop or ring that would hold a cup with tapered walls, a plastic device that would snap onto a can, or any other means to attach a drink or food item. Any embodiment could be designed to be either for single or repeated use. Although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described here, a wide range of modifications, changes, and substitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the foregoing description be construed broadly and understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A handle for attachment to a beverage receptacle defining an axis along its length, the handle being essentially a closed loop of thin material about one loop axis, said handle comprising an attachment means which enables attachment of said handle to said receptacle so as to orient the axis of the loop of said handle essentially perpendicular to the axis of the beverage receptacle, the loop further having a width significantly larger than its thickness, and a circumferential length great enough to accommodate insertion of one or more fingers of a human hand, wherein upon insertion said handle fits firmly around the finger or fingers, thus securing the beverage container against rotation about the fingers when the beverage container exerts a moment about the fingers.
 2. The handle of claim 1, wherein said handle allows the user to position said beverage receptacle on the back of the user's hand so as to not limit the dexterity of a hand when used.
 3. The handle of claim 1, wherein said handle is made of flexible material.
 4. The handle of claim 1, wherein said handle is made of sheet cardboard material.
 5. The handle of claim 1, wherein said handle is made of molded plastic, formed or pressed metal, or otherwise formed by other materials into the described shapes.
 6. The handle of claim 1, wherein said handle is constructed by a user by wrapping a strip of material around one or more or the user's fingers and adhesively attaching said strip of material to said receptacle to form the closed loop of said handle.
 7. The beverage receptacle of claim 1, having a plurality of handles, of varying sizes, in order to accommodate hands of various sizes.
 8. The beverage receptacle of claim 1, wherein said beverage receptacle may be a cylinder with tapered walls to hold a beverage container, a cylindrical receptacle with a bottom to hold a bottle, a hoop or ring that would hold a cup with tapered walls, a plastic device that would snap onto a can, or any other means to attach a drink or food item to the handle of claim
 1. 9. The handle of claim 1, wherein said handle is attached to one of a second receptacle or a container on the palm side of the hand to hold food or drink item.
 10. A handle for attachment to a beverage container defining an axis along the length of the container, the handle being essentially a closed loop of thin material about one loop axis; said handle comprising an attachment means of said handle to the beverage container so as to orient the axis of the loop of said handle essentially perpendicular to the axis of the beverage container, the loop further having a width significantly larger than its thickness, and a circumferential length great enough to accommodate insertion of one or more fingers of a human hand, wherein upon insertion said handle fits firmly around the finger or fingers, thus securing the beverage container against rotation about the fingers when the beverage container exerts a moment about the fingers.
 11. An apparatus for carrying a beverage container in one human hand comprising; a beverage receptacle comprising a thin material forming a continuous band to secure the beverage container within the beverage receptacle; at least one handle attached to the beverage receptacle, the at least one handle comprising a closed loop of thin material; the at least one handle accommodates insertion of at least one human finger to support the beverage receptacle while permitting substantially normal dexterity of the fingers of the one human hand. 